Accent Signage settles lawsuit over 2012 workplace shooting

Two years after the deadly workplace shooting at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis, the family of one of the victims has reached an undisclosed settlement with the company, the Associated Press reports.

Jacob Beneke (pictured), 34, and the father of a young son, was one of six people killed by employee Andrew Engeldinger on Sept. 27, 2012, before Engeldinger turned the gun on himself. It was the deadliest workplace shooting in Minnesota history.

The lawsuit filed by Beneke's family alleged that Accent Signage should have known Engeldinger had violent tendencies, was mentally unstable and was a potential danger to others.

The Beneke family's attorney Phil Villaume said the case was resolved by mutual agreement a few weeks ago, but did not disclose any details of the settlement. In a statement, Accent Signage confirmed the settlement but also declined further comment, according to MPR News.

On the day of the shooting, Engeldinger went on a shooting spree inside the company immediately after being fired, ultimately killing five colleagues and a UPS driver, before killing himself. Engeldinger was fired for work performance issues, including being late for work 35 days in a row.

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The lawsuit also claimed the company should have increased security the day company officials planned to fire Engeldinger.

In the days after the shooting, Engeldinger's family revealed that their son had been diagnosed with depression and showed signs of schizophrenia, and they tried repeatedly over two years to convince him to seek treatment, the Associated Press reported.

But he refused to do so, and there was nothing else they could do because Minnesota law doesn't allow people to be forced into treatment without proof that they are a threat to themselves or others.